Symonds fails to impress

Andrew Symonds' quest to become an England Test cricketer received a frosty response from Ray Illingworth last night. "I know how I felt last year and so far my feelings have not changed," the chairman of selectors said.

Illingworth effectively closed his file on Symonds in September when the Anglo-Australian rejected a chance to play for England A and chose instead to return "home" to Queensland. "There won't be any second chance for him," Illingworth said at the time. But now the Birmingham-born, Australian- raised 20-year-old has accepted a new three-year contract with Gloucestershire, with whom he scored 1,438 runs and hit a world record 20 sixes again Glamorgan last season, and has made himself available for England - if they want him.

The contract includes a stringent clause insisted upon by the Test and County Cricket Board and Cricketers' Association that he will be available for Test matches if selected.

Illingworth will want to study Symonds' statements before committing himself fully. But his initial reaction confirmed that the youngster will need to convince English cricket about the sincerity of his motives.

The issue could cause an early split among England's new panel of selectors. David Graveney has been sympathetic towards Symonds' dual qualification dilemma, but Graham Gooch was critical last year of players appearing to fly flags of convenience.

Symonds played for Queensland but failed to win a place in the Australian World Cup team and that proved a vital factor in his decision to sign the new Gloucestershire deal.